Harrogate Borough Council

• Residents
• Visitors
• Business

Menu

Industrial Pollution and Emissions

Pollution from industrial and commercial sources can be dealt with under various powers. This section refers to the following pollution control regimes regulated by local authorities:

• Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (LA-IPPC), which covers what are known as Part A(2) installations; installations subject to control of pollution of land, air and water, together with energy conservation, minimisation of waste, land contamination and noise. An example of a Part A2 process would be a large print works.
  
• Local Authority Pollution Prevention and Control (LAPPC), which covers what are known as Part B installations. These are generally subject to air pollution control only. Examples include concrete batching plants and petrol stations.

These regimes used to be regulated under the Pollution Prevention and Control (PPC) Regulations 2000. From 6 April 2008 the PPC Regulations were replaced by the Environmental Permitting (EP) Regulations. These new regulations will make existing legislation more efficient by combining PPC and Waste Management Licensing (WML) regulations.

Public Consultations

The EP Regulations require local authorities to inform public consultees of applications for permits and for substantial changes.

The EP Regulations define 'public consultee' as a "person who in the regulator's opinion is affected by, is likely to be affected by, or has an interest in an application".

Below is a table of applications for new permits and/or substantial changes for existing environmental permits that are currently available for public consultation. Public consultees are invited to comment on the applications by the specified deadline for comment by filling in and submitting the form below:

For your comments to be taken into consideration you must state your name address and how you will be affected by the application or what your interest in the application is.

The applications can also be viewed on the Public Register at:

Harrogate Borough Council
Department of Community Services
Environmental Protection team
Springfield House
Kings Road
Harrogate HG1 5NX

and can be inspected free of charge during normal office hours. There is a charge for photocopying any information from the Public Register.

Any written comments will be placed on the Public Register unless they include a statement requesting that this is not done. If there is such a request, the Register itself will just include a note that representations have been made which are not on the Register because of such a request.

Permits

If you already have a PPC permit it will automatically become an Environmental Permit from 6 April. You do not need to reapply and we will not reissue your permit. Your permit will contain the same conditions as before. 

The Environmental Protection team issues a permit containing conditions relating to site management, emission limit values and other pollution control techniques. These are based on guidance issued by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and represent the best available technique (BAT) for controlling pollution for each type of process.

Each process is regularly inspected to ensure compliance with the permit conditions and visits are made to investigate complaints from members of the public. When a permit condition breach is discovered the team may choose to take informal action, to use Enforcement or Suspension Notices, to use Formal Cautions or to take legal proceedings. Any action taken is in line with Harrogate Borough Council's Local Authority Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control Enforcement Policy. To request a copy please contact environmentalprotection@harrogate.gov.uk

For further information on the Pollution Control Service please use the link on the right hand side to view the Pollution Control Service Delivery Plan 2007/08.

If you believe you may be operating a prescribed process without a permit please contact us on 01423 556633. If you continue to operate a process without a permit you may be prosecuted with a fine of up to £50,000. If you contact us now to apply for a permit you will not risk being prosecuted.

Apply for a Permit

To apply for a permit for any Local Authority regulated Part B activity, use the links below to download an application form. You can either fill it in online and e-mail it to environmentalprotection@harrogate.gov.uk or print it off and return the completed form by post to:

Environmental Protection team
Harrogate Borough Council
Springfield House
Harrogate
HG1 5NX

Application Form For a Part B Activity

Fees and Charges

Operators must pay a one-off application fee and then an annual subsistence fee. These fees are set by DEFRA annually.

For a summary of the 2008-09 fees and charges scheme please see the 'notification letter' available on the following link, including a convenient tabular breakdown of the charges in the appendices at the end of the letter.

Fees and charges

Public Register

All Part A1, A2 and B processes within the Harrogate District are listed on a Public Register. This includes the permit and results of any monitoring. It is free to view the Public Register for a specific installation, and this can be arranged by calling 01423 556633. There is a charge for photocopying any information from the Register.

A list of premises holding a permit on 1 April of the current financial year is available here. A completely up to date list taking account of any changes made during the financial year can be obtained by contacting us.

Other Pollution

Other information on dark smoke and chimney heights can be found in the Air Quality section on the left hand menu. 

Waste

The Environment Agency regulates 'controlled wastes', which include household, industrial and commercial waste. For further information follow the link below to the Environment Agency's webpages on waste:

http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/subjects/waste/?version=1&lang=_e